Broker's price opinion
A broker's price opinion is the process used by a hired sales agent to determine the potential selling price[1] or estimated value[2] of a real estate property. A BPO is popularly used in situations where a financial institution believes the expense and delay of an appraisal is unnecessary.[1]
Involved parties
Broker's price opinions are initiated by financial institutions.[1] Examples are banks, mortgage companies, and loss mitigation companies.[3][4][5]
The BPO is performed by a real estate professional who is acting on behalf of the financial institution.[1] Such a professional could be a real estate agent, a real estate broker, an appraiser, or other qualified person.[2][1] Through BPOs, agents can improve their skills in property inspection, market evaluation, and property pricing.[6] At a price of US$50–150 per BPO,[5] the work can provide side income or steady income for real estate agents.[1] Agents may also create working relationships and a rapport with financial institutions.[1][7] Some BPO agents work through a BPO company that provides a single point of contact to the client and oversight of agents and their reports.[1]
Uses of a BPO
A financial institution may order a BPO for:
- situations that do not support the cost or time of a full real estate appraisal[4][1][8]
- real estate owned (REO) properties[1]
- pending foreclosures[4] or foreclosure[1]
- short sales[1]
- an addition or a cross check to an appraisal
- home equity loans[1] and a home equity line of credit[1] of less than $250,000
- refinancing[4]
- appeal to cancel lenders mortgage insurance (LMI or PMI)[1]
- due diligence by financial institutions[1]
- asset evaluation and bookkeeping by financial institutions[1]
- a selling or purchase price for an individual property[9] or a portfolio of home loans (sometimes for thousands of loans)[1]
Overview of the BPO process
A real estate agent or a broker is hired to complete a BPO report on a property. A BPO may be occasionally requested without a fee in hopes that the financial institution, bank, or lender will receive a sales listing for the property.[1]
The BPO professional then conducts the investigation. Many factors affect the price of a property:
- characteristics of the individual property, such as structure type, size, room use, age, lot size, and parking[10][11]
- how the property fits into the immediate neighborhood[10]
- compliance with local zoning requirements[10]
- characteristics of the neighborhood[10]
- values of similar properties in the surrounding area[2]
- the amount of cleaning, repair, and preparation needed to make the property marketable[2][11]
The result is a brief report, usually two or three pages in length. This report includes analysis of the property and neighborhood, photographs, comparable properties ("comps"), and local and regional market information.[1][10]
Types of BPOs
A broker may do a drive-by BPO or an interior BPO.[3] In drive-by BPOs, the professionals do not have access to the interior of the property;[5] they rely on exterior appearance, neighborhood information, comparables, and other documentation.[10] The interior BPO is more in-depth; it requires advanced contact with the property's inhabitants, evaluation of the interior and exterior, measuring to verify room dimensions, and additional photographs.[5][11]
Comparison to other kinds of value analysis
- Automated valuation model
In an automated valuation model (AVM), a computerized mathematical model evaluates basic features of the property, compares to area sales, and determines a rough value. The calculation takes into account information about property size, bedrooms, and bathrooms. An AVM is a basic evaluation – "just to make sure that the property value is in the right ball park" – and may be replaced by a full real estate appraisal.[9] Because an AVM does not involve a site visit, it does not include factors such as condition or upgrades.[8]
- Comparative market analysis
An individual who is looking to sell or purchase a home might request that an agent perform a comparative market analysis (CMA)[8] to determine a reasonable listing price or offering price.[12] The process of deciding a CMA price is similar to a BPO.[1] However, a BPO – whether the exterior drive-by BPO or the full interior BPO – is more thorough than most CMAs.[13]
- Real estate appraisal
Unlike a BPO professional, a real estate appraiser must be licensed or certified in most countries. A BPO is less thorough than an appraisal, although the process of deciding a price is similar to a residential real estate appraisal.[1]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "BPO Defined". National Association of Broker Price Opinion Professionals (NABPOP). Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 "Broker Price Opinion - BPO". Investopedia. Investopedia, LLC. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- 1 2 Kimmons, James. "All About The BPO or Broker Price Opinion". About.com. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 Kimmons, James. "When is a BPO or Broker Price Opinion Used?: Who Might Call You for a BPO and Why". About.com. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Kimmons, James. "The Two Major Types of BPO or Broker Price Opinions: What Are Drive By and Internal BPO's?". About.com. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ↑ "Income doing Broker Price Opinions - BPOs; Increase Skills as a Real Estate Professional". National Association of Broker Price Opinion Professionals (NABPOP). Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ↑ Ventolo, William L., Jr.; Williams, Martha R. (1992). The Art of Real Estate Appraisal: Dollars and Cents Answers to Your Questions (Paperback). Dearborn Financial Publishing Inc. pp. 25–73. ISBN 0-79310-207-3.
- 1 2 3 "Realtors® Should Embrace Online Data, Educate Consumers about Valuations" (Press release). New Orleans: National Association of Realtors. November 8, 2014.
- 1 2 "During my mortgage loan application process, I was given three or four different valuations. What do all the different valuations mean?". Ask CFPB. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. May 5, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kimmons, James. "What is Involved in a Drive By BPO or Broker Price Opinion? The Drive By BPO is a Bit More Than the Name Implies". About.com. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- 1 2 3 Kimmons, James. "What Is Involved in an Internal BPO or Broker Price Opinion?". About.com. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
- ↑ "Responsible Valuation Policy". National Association of Realtors. February 16, 2012.
- ↑ Kimmons, James. "NABPOP - The National Association of Broker Price Opinion Professionals: A Professional Association with Training and Certification". About.com. Retrieved February 28, 2015.